Rotary engine.



D. D. LESTER.

ROTARY ENGINE.

-APPLlcATmN FILED MAR. 10. 1915. A

V Patented July 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH c0..wASHlNGTaN. D. c.

D. D. LESTER.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. Io. 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPM C0., WASHINGTON. D, c.

,UN i

un sra'rns :canins n. LESTER, or noANoKE, vine-imap. i

ROTARY ENGINE.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2o, i915.

Application led March 10, `1915. Serial No. 13,369.. i

To all Lv/0m t may concern:

Be it known that I, DARIUs D. LEs'rEn, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Roanoke, in the county of Roanoke and State of'Virginia, have inventedcertain new and useful vImprovements in Rotary' Enl gines, of which the following is aspecication. v

This invention'pertains toY fluidA driven, rotary engines, and among the 'obj ectsthereof arethe following: 1st:-To provide an improved form of sliding abutment for the reaction of the driving-fluid. 2nd To provide a form of rotor peculiarly adapted for use with my'improved form ,ofabutment 3rd-To provide improved methods offorming the rotor so as to minimize the leakage of fluid around the piston and disk thereof. 4th :-To provide an improved form of packing ring for use with the'revolving piston of my engine. 5th :w'Io provide improvements in abutment actuating means.

Other objects both apart from and in conjunction with. the foregoing objects will hereinafter appear as the description of my invention isset forth.

I/Vith such objects Ainview, -the'invention consists in the formation, combinationand arrangement of elements as herein described and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims. l

In the drawings-which form a part'of these specifications, Figure lis a side-elevation of a rotary engine embodying the features of my invention and Fig. 2 an end elevation ofthe same.' F ig.3 is a section showing the abutment actuating'piston, the same being taken on the line AB, Fig. 1. Fig. V4 is a sectional elevation 'ofthe assembled machine, taken on the line' CD of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the lline EF, Fig. 4,'a portion of the yoke guides being shown as Vbroken away'becauseoflack of space. Fig. 6 is a partial plan view, showing the yoke guides and springs for which there was not space in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line GI-I, Fig. 4 through the rotor of my invention, showing the peculiar' piston and rotor packings of my invention. Fig. 8 isa diagrammaticalv view or. the rotor of the machine showing the relative dispositions of'thepacking strips of the rotor and casing.

they occur, 1 represents the rotary engine as .a whole, it'being composed vprimarily of a casing 2, made up of the halves 3 v and 4, a

'shaft 5 and a rotor 6 carriedby'the said shaft.

The casing 2 is providedwith journals 7 and 8 for the shaft 5y andj the` halves 3 and 4 vof the' casing have spaced relation, longitudinally of the shaft with each other. The

intervening space 9 between these parts ofk the casing is a radially converging space, and snugly occupying this space is the radially tapered rotor 6, the central portion 10 thus constituting an outwardly tapered disk, lwith -the outer periphery rounded oft' as at` 54. Concentric with the said shaft and rotor I Aprovide an annular `piston-way 1ll andatvtached to the outer, periphery of the rotor disk 10 isa revoluble piston 12,1 the same l beingv adapted to register with and be revolubly accommodated by' the said .pistonway. This piston-way and the piston in it are made circular in cross section for the purpose of admitting theuse of a modifical tion of--the ordinary circular, piston packing rings such as I have designated 13. As the piston 12 revolves in the piston-way 11 the packing rings l13,' provide means for pre- ,venting the leakage .ofl the" driving -luid around the cylindricalpiston proper. However, as therotor revolves at high speeds it 'will be` seeny that the.l effect of centrifugal force would beto spread the open bottom of these rings and consequently throw them out `of their true circular form and bearing. To 'prevent this I provide these rings with the inwardly disposed dowels 14 and inthe pisf ton .I provide suitable registering holes 15 f which receive these vdowels 'and f thereby retain' the' said -rings in yposition on the revolvingzpis'ton. y Q Inengines of this type itis customary to admit the driving liuid against the back face 46 of the revolving piston and interpose a suitable fluid abutment .across the -pistonway, which serves as a reaction point for the fluid pressure and prevents the fluid from escaping to the atmosphere through the eX- haust port. y

With the enginerotating in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 1 and 4 and referring particularly to Fig. 4, the driving fluid is admitted through the port 16 and it will be assumed that the abutment 17 `is in the position across the piston-way as shown. The

pressure of the steam on other fluid against the face 46 of the piston will canse it to revolve in the piston-way and rotate the shaft 5. At the same time iuid on the opposite side of the piston, or between the piston and the abutment 17 is being expelled through the exhaust port 1S to the atmosphere. As the piston 12 approaches the abutment 17 the latter is withdrawn from across the piston-way to admit the passage of the piston and is then again-interposed across the same and the driving iiuid again admitted behind the said piston.

rlhe general operation of such engines having been explained, it is now among the provinces of my invention to form this fluid abutment in an improved manner and to provide improved means for actuating the same.

Extending preferably radially from the piston-way 11 l provide a recess 19 adapted to accommodate the abutment 17 when withdrawn. The inner end 20 of the abutment is made preferably of Babbitt or other metal capable of becoming slightly plastic under the influence of steam and capable of a certain amount of flow under pressure at low temperatures, and it is provided with a tapered and rounded groove 21 which coincides with the taper of the disk portion 10 of lthe rotor and with the rounded periphery 54 thereof.

The tapered shape of the rotor disk with its rounded periphery provides a shape suitable for the continued accommodation of the wearing end of the abutment as the wear advances it radially inward and leaves no sharp corners to wear into the abutment.

rl`he recess 19 is provided at its outer end with the pierced head 22 through which extends the outer end of the abutment 17.

External of the recess the abutment is provided with an extension or stem 23 and slidably accommodated upon this extension is the cross bar or yoke 24. The nuts 47 serve to retain this yoke on the extension 23 and between the yoke 24 and the outer end 43 of the abutment is a leaf spring 25 which serves to form a yielding connection between the abutment and its actuating mechanism.

rlhe yoke 24 is provided with the holes 49 at the ends which slidingly engage the parallel guides 39. These guides are secured at their inner ends to the head 22 and at their outer ends are provided with nuts 50. Occupying the space between these nuts 50 and the yoke 24 and encircling the guides 39 are compression springs 33, and it will be seen that these coil springs serve to keep the inner end 2O of the abutment in intimate contact with the rotor disk and its periphery when the abutment is interposed across the piston-way, and the abutment thus forms a packing for the revolving rotor disk as well as a fluid abutment across the piston-way.

rllhe inner end 20 of the abutment does not extend entirely to the shaft 5 and to complete the packing radially of the space between the rotor disk, and the casing l provide packing strips 26 in suitable grooves 27 in the casing wall. These packing strips extend substantially radially from adjacent the shaft 5 to a point where they will be engaged by the inner end of the abutment 17 when it is interposed across the piston-way and the inner end of the abutment is provided with suitable grooves 51 to receive the same.

Back of the packing strips 26 ll provide expanding springs 28 so as to keep the packing strip at all times pressed out firmly against the adjacent side of the rotor disk. The grooves 27 are furthermore made slightly deeper at their inner ends than at their outer ends so that the tendency will be for the packing strips to be kept at all times in intimate contact with the shaft 5 and form a packing for the same.

The abutment 17 and the packing strips 26 thus together form a complete radial fluid abutment, and it now remains to provide similar means to minimize the leakage around the disk portion of the rotor at the moving or piston end of the fluid-pressure cavity. This l accomplish in a similar manner, by having` the rotor disk made with radial grooves 52 extending from the shaft (and slightly within this shaft also) at the center, to and slightly within the piston 12. inserted in these grooves are-packing strips 29, the same being expanded outwardly against the inner faces of the casing by means of the springs 30. Thus l have completed the closure of the fluid passage around the piston to such an extent that but slight leakage will occur.

lWhile 1 have described the packing strips 26 as being substantially radial, yet they are in reality offset slightly from a radial line as shown in Fig. 8, so that in revolving the strip 26 will first touch the strip 29 at one of its corners and the strips will thereby be enabled to readily pass one another. lt will be seven that the strips 29 fall on the radial line JK while the strips 26 are disposed parallel to the radial line LM, so that the strips first contact each other at their inner corners at 55.

lt will be seen that the springs 38 will serve to always return the abutment 17 to its interposed position. But in order to make this action more positive and instantaneous and at the same time to better' regulate the fluid supply l provide the following means for effecting these combined results.

At 31 is a fluid distributing valve of any approved form with the lluid supply connected thereto at 32. rillhis valve has operative connection with the engine shaft and is shown in a position where it is admitting the operating fluid to the piston-way through way 11. But previous to this it .has served to augment the action of the .springs 38 in quickly moving the abutment 17 inwardly. Thus the admission of steam or other fluid above this piston portion of the abutment will tend to advance it across the annular piston-way and against the rotor disk, such advance, however, not being possible until the cam 35 on the rotor shaft has turned to a correct position. This camis so formed and disposed on the shaft that the operating stem 36 and roller 37 will be forced outwardly at predetermined periods, and the outer end of the stem 36, abutting the' yoke 24 will actuate the abutment 17withdrawing the same from its position across the annular pistonway.

The stem 36 passesthrough suitable guiding holes 57 in the casing 4 and the head 22, and in order to prevent bendingof this stem when the cam 35 is actuating lit, the iaw portion 58 is restrained in suitable guides 59 cast out from the casing 4.

The yoke 24is, as stated, yieldingly secured to the outer end of the abutment stem 23 and is prevented by any suitable means such as the guides 39 from turning out of registry with the abutting end of the stem 36.

l/Vhen the ca-m35 has revolved a suitable amount the roller 37 will .follow down the reverse side 40 of the cam and the steam pressure above the piston portion 34 of the abutment 17, aided by the springs 25, will advance the abutment to the position shown. When t-he piston 34- of the` abutment has reached a point in its inward movement to open or uncover the port 16, the driving fluid will be admitted backof the piston 12, and -it will be seen that until the abutment 17 vis almost `seated against the rotor disk and across the pistonwvay, steam will not be admitted to the piston-Way 11, hence there is no possibility of the steam blowing past the abutment and out the exhaust port by premature admission. It will be seen that some clearance is allowed between the end of the stem 36 and the yoke 24 so that the springs 25 and the steam may be unhindered in holding the abutment against the disk, and the soft insert of the abutment wear down.

In order that there may be but slight clearance between the piston and the abutment just after the piston has passed, the

one `lace of the abutment at 41 `is cutto an Vangular shape to more nearly: conform to the face 15 of the piston as the abutment drops behind the same.

l The abutment 17 is preferably ymade of circular -cross section soas the better to eX- pand atits lower end under the-influence of steam or pressure ariel of theitapered `disk and for the purpose of forming a more desirable shape in the 'recess'and through the' head 22. i

In order to properly 'oil the. revolving parts andr particularly the diskportion of the rotor, I provide in the casing 3 an oil hole 42 and a threaded opening 43 for the attache ing thereto any suitable form'of voil cup or feed. The abutment 17 is likewise providedv `with an oil hole 44 and an oil passage-way 45. leading to the contact surface of the abutment. It will now be seen thatlwhenever the abutment is withdrawn the hole 44 will' momentarily register with the lhole 42 and a charge of oil will be admitted to the passage-Way 45 and the revolving parts will thereby receivetheir necessary oiling.

The means for operating the valve 3l from the'engine shaft is not shown in the drawings as any approved `reciprocating agent ymight be employed to accomplish this end. i

Thus I yhave described the present` embodiment of my invention.y But I do not wish to be limited strictly to the construction shown-l and described, 'as various alterations might be made vtherein within the scopey of the claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

vioo

Having thus described my invention, what I'claim is:A ,t

1. `In .a rotary engine, a casing having an annular piston-way therein, a concentricl shaft Journaled 1n said casing, a rotor se` cured to said shaft, saidrot'or comprising4 an outwardly and radially tapered diskrhaving a piston secured to the outer periphery thereof, the said piston beingV adapted to register with and be revolubly accommodated :by the said annular piston-way, a fluid abutment for the said piston-way having radial operative relationship vwithvthe said rotor, the said abutment being formed at its inner end of Babbittiorwother soft metal and being adapted toinwardly and radially coact with the sides and the outer periphery of the said tapered disk ofthe rotor to form a fluid closure, and means acting in timed relation to the rotation of the said rotor for alternately advancing the said n t abutment to and withdrawing the same from a position across the said piston-way and in contact with the said disk.`

2. In a rotary engine, a casing having an annular piston-way therein, a concentric shaft journaled in said casing, a'rotor secured to said shaft, said rotor comprising an outwardly and radially tapered disk having a piston secured to the outer periphery thereof, the said piston being adapted to register with and be revolubly accommodated by the said annular piston-way, a fluid abutment for the said piston-way having radial operative relationship with the `said rotor, the said abutment being formed at its -inner end of Babbitt or other soft metal and being adapted to inwardly and radially co-act with the sides and the outer periphery of the said tapered disk of the rotor, means acting in timed relation tothe rotation of said rotor for alternately advancing the said abutment to and withdrawing the same from a position across the said piston-way and in contact with the said disk, and a radiallyoutward extending recess from said pistonway adapted to receive and slidably accommodate the said abutment.

8. In a rotary engine, a casing having an annular' piston-way therein, a concentric shaft journaled in said casing, a rotor secured to said shaft, said rotor comprising an outwardly and radially tapered disk having a piston secured to the outer periphery thereof, the said piston being adapted to register with and be revolubly accommodated by the said annular piston-way, a fluid abutment for the said piston-way having radial operative relationship with the said rotor, the said abutment being formed at its inner end of Babbitt or other soft metal and being adapted to inwardly and radially co-act with the sides and the outer periphery of the said tapered disk -of the rotor to form a fluid closure, means acting in timed relation to the rotation of said rotor for alternately advancing the said abutmentv to and withdrawing the same from a position across the said piston-way and in contact with the said disk, the said means including an actuating rod and a yoke, the said yoke being yieldably connected to the said abutment.

il. ln a rotary engine, a casing having an annular piston-way therein, a concentric shaft journaled in said casing, a rotor secured to said shaft, said rotor comprising an outwardly and radially tapered disk having a piston secured to the outer periphery thereof,` the said piston being adapted to register with and be revolubly accommodated by the said annular piston-way, a fluid abutment for the said piston-way havingradial operative relationship with the said rotor, the said abutment being circular in cross section and being formed at its inner end of Babbitt or other soft metal and being adapted to inwardly and radially co-act with the sides and the outer periphery of the said tapered disk of the rotor to form a fluid closure, means acting in timed relation to the rotation of the said rotor for alternately advancing the said abutment to and withdrawing the same from a position across the said piston-way and in contact with the said disk, a radially-outward extending recess from said piston-way adapted to receive and slidably accommodate the said abutment, a fluid passageway in said recess and at the side of said abutment, and a lateral eXtension from said abutment forming a piston in the said fluid passageway, the said fluid passageway forming means for directing driving fluid from an external source to the said annular piston-way.

5. ln a rotary engine, a shaft, a casing having an annular piston-way therein, a piston secured to said shaft and having revoluble relationship with the said piston-way, a sliding fluid abutment adapted to be alternately interposed and withdrawn from across the said piston-way in harmony with the revolutions of the said piston, a recess eX- tending radially of said piston-way and across the same, and the said fluid abutment being slidably accommodated within the said recess, the said recess and abutment being circular in cross-section, and means for alternately withdrawing and interposing the said abutment across said annular pistonway, the said means comprising a cam mounted on the said shaft, an actuating stein adapted to be operated by the said cam, yokek secured to said abutment and adapted to be outwardly actuated by the said actuating stem, and a spring adapted to inwardly actuate the said abutment.

G. ln a rotary engine, a casing having an annular piston-way therein, a concentric shaft journaled in said casing, a rotor embodying a revoluble piston of circular cross section adapted to traverse the annular path of the said piston-way, the said piston being provided with annular packing rings and said rings being provided with inwardly disposed dowels at the sides thereof, and said piston being provided with holes adapted to receive the said dowels, the said dowels and holes constituting means for the retention of the said rings against centrifugal force.

7. ln a rotary engine, a casing, the sides of which have spaced relationship with each other, the intervening space terminating at its outer periphery in an annular pistonway, a concentric shaft journaled in said casing, a rotor secured to said shaft, said rotor comprising a central disk portion having a piston secured to the outer periphery thereof, the said piston being adapted to register with and be revolubly accommodated by the said annular piston-way, and the said disk portion being rotatably positioned between the said sides of the casing, a radially disposed groove in the side of the said rotor extending from slightly within the said shaft radially across the said disk to and slightly within the said piston, a packing strip in the said groove, said packlle ing strip extending for the full length of the said groove from within the said shaft at one end to within the said piston at the other end and being thereby retained within the said groove, and means for expanding the said packing strip from within the said groove to a position against the adjacent side of the said casing.

8. In a rotary engine, a casing, the sides of which have spaced relationship with each other, the intervening space forming a circular fluid cavity and terminating at its outer periphery in an annular piston-way, a concentric shaft journaled in said casing, a rotor secured to said shaft, said rotor comprising an outwardly and radially tapered disk having a piston secured to the outer periphery thereof, the said piston being adapted to register with and be revolubly accommodated by the said annular pistonway, a fluid abutment across said piston- Way having radial operative relationship with the said rotor, the said abutment being formed at its inner end to conform to and -to inwardly and radially coact with the tapered disk portion of the said rotor, means acting in timed relation to the rotation of the said rotor for alternately advancing the said abutment to and withdrawing the same from a position across the said piston-way, all in combination with a substantially radial groove in the inner side of the said casing and a packing strip in said'groove, said packing strip being provided with means for expanding the same laterally from said groove against the adjacent side of the said rotor disk and extending radially from adjacent the said shaft to adjacent the said piston-way, the said packing strip being disposed circumferentially of the casing at a point adapted to be engaged by the Said abutment when the same is advanced 9. In a rotary engine, a casing having an annular piston-way therein, 'a concentric shaft journaled in said casing, a rotor secured to said shaft, said rotor comprising an outwardly and radially tapered disk having a piston secured to the outer periphery thereof, the said piston being adapted to register with and be revolubly accommodated by the said annular piston-way, fluid and withdrawing the same from aposition across the said pistonfway. 10. In a rotary engine, a casing having an annular piston-way therein, a shaft, a rotor carried by said shaft, a piston onsaid rotor adapted to register with and be accommodated by the' said annular piston-way, a fluid abutment adapted to be interposed and withdrawn from a position across'said annular piston-way and to have sliding concontact with the said rotor and an oil'hole volved, a recess adapted to slidably accommodate the said abutment, an oil groove in the said abutment extending to its ypoint of Contact with he said rotor and an oil hole in the wall of the said recess, the said oil the 4said abutment is interposed, and a supi ply of oil connected to said oil hole.

In testimony whereof I' afix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

DARIUS D. LESTER. Witnesses:

N. W. PHnLPs, L. S. TUCKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing'the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

